Washington, D.C. – Project Learning Tree®  (PLT), the environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation, awarded Linda Carson, of Bow, N.H., Sandy Greene, of Mt. Sidney, Va., Derenda Marshall, of Spartanburg, S.C., James R. Sanders, of Savannah, Ga., and Fred Wiechmann of Lakeland, Fla., as 2004 National Outstanding Educators of the Year.  The honorees received their awards at the 18th Annual International PLT Conference, June 3, in Bismarck, N.D. where the Lt. Governor, Jack Dalrymple, and Dr. Wayne Sanstead, Superintendent, North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, addressed over 100 attendees.  

These outstanding educators exemplify the criteria of the award: exceptional teaching skills, commitment to the PLT curriculum, exemplary use of environmental education in the classroom, and sustained use of PLT.  They represent the diversity that is one of the strengths of PLT: they work in different parts of the country, in rural and urban communities, and with all ages of learners.

Carson, is a seventh grade science teacher at Hillsboro-Deering Middle School, Hillborough, N.H.  Being a lifelong resident of New Hampshire and engaging actively in the environmental education community for her entire career, Carson’s resume is saturated with activities and projects linking students with the New Hampshire environment.  She strives to teach her students about New Hampshire’s ecosystems, weaving the local environment into each topic in her curriculum.  She further builds connections between her students and their environment by exploring the natural world of Hillsborough. 

Greene is an Education Specialist with the Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District in Verona, Va.  Environmental education has been a big part of Greene’s lesson plans since she began working with kids as a camp counselor over 30 years ago.  She has organized “Envirothon” competitions, outdoor classroom creations, and one five-day rafting trip for over 100 people that taught them about water treatment, hydroelectric power, farms, water value, and appreciating the beauty of nature.

Marshall is a third grade teacher at River Ridge Elementary School in Moore, S.C.   She works to ensure that environmental education becomes a significant player in not only her curriculum, but in students’ lives.  Her work to gain funding to put in a garden pond on school grounds paid off.  Now they have “The Puzzling Pond” where students learn about native plants and fish.  Marshall also began and implemented a recycling program at her school and now, seven years later, it’s still going strong.

Sanders is an outreach forester with International Paper.  He is known for his innovative ideas to reach different audiences about the environment.  He helped organize and create two of Georgia’s most outstanding teacher education opportunities that have now been running for 20 years.  For 12 years, he has organized Georgia’s Forestry Field Day events to reach students statewide.  In 2001, he earned the support of International Paper, which funded “Earth Camp” and “Camp Lighthouse,” two programs that help connect kids to their environment. 

Wiechmann is the principal at Lakeland Christian School in Lakeland, Fla.  Integrating students with their natural environment plays a big role in Marshall’s method of environmental education.  Each school year begins with “Creation Care Week” where PLT activities are conducted daily at all grade levels.  During this week teachers lead students through lessons that allow students to interact with and learn from their environment – setting the stage for further three-dimensional learning throughout the year.  Other environmental education sources that Wiechmann has created are a habitat conservation forest on school grounds, a box turtle habitat, and a butterfly garden.

"While our award winners are quick to thank others for supporting them in their endeavors, they are the ones who have rolled up their sleeves and dedicated themselves to providing quality environmental education for their students," Kathy McGlauflin, Senior Vice President of Education at the American Forest Foundation said.  "They sincerely deserve this recognition."

Project Learning Tree is successful because of its network of dedicated educators and volunteers such as the five 2004 Outstanding Educators of the year, that actively implement the program. Since 1994, national PLT has officially recognized the dedicated efforts of the people that bring PLT into the classroom, nature centers, universities, and youth groups.

Ed McMahon, Vice President and Director of Land Use Programs, The Conservation Fund, based in Arlington, Va., also spoke during the five-day conference.

For more information please contact Amanda Rudy, Manager, Communications, 202.463.2442, Email arudy@forestfoundation.org or visit PLT at www.plt.org.

Project Learning Tree®  (PLT) is the environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation. PLT uses the forest as a “window on the world” to increase student’s understanding of our complex environment and to help students learn the skills they need to make sound choices about the environment.  Developed in 1976, PLT has an international network of more than 300,000 trained educators using six curricula covering the total environment.  The American Forest Foundation, a nonprofit organization, works for healthy forests, quality environmental education, and informed decision-making about our communities and our world.